From the desk of Andrew Burchett...

Years ago my wife, Linda and I had just our first two children and longed to have more.  After several painful miscarriages and years of waiting, it occurred to us that maybe the Lord just didn’t want us to have any more kids.  We prayed and prayed, consulted with doctors and nothing happened. 

It was around that time that a spiritual father in my life asks me, “Why don’t you ask the Lord for a dream where He will reveal to you His will?”  It had never occurred to me that the Lord uses dreams to guide, inspire, comfort and reveal Himself to us. 

The Lord has always used dreams to communicate with people. 

·         Jacob dreams and sees a stairway to heaven (Gen. 28)

·         Jacob also receives wisdom from God in a dream about how to mate goats (Gen. 31)

·         Laban is warned by God to be kind to Jacob (Gen. 31)

·         Joseph has prophetic dreams foretelling his exalted position over his family (Gen.37)

·         Pharaoh has dreams that are warning him to prepare for famine (Gen 41)

·         Solomon is offered a gift from the Lord in a dream and he chooses wisdom (1 Ki. 3)

·         King Nebuchadnezzar has dreams about his kingdom & is warned by God (Dan. 4)

·         Paul in the New Testament is called by God to Macedonia in a dream (Acts 16)

·         Paul also is informed that he will stand before Caesar (Acts 27)

The most notable dreams in the Bible are a part of the Christmas story. 

Matthew 1:18-20 (NIV)
18  This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19  Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 20  But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

It was a dream that kept Joseph from leaving Mary and jeopardizing God’s salvation plan through His son Jesus.  The text explains to us that when Joseph woke up he did what the angel commanded him to do.  Crisis averted.  The holy family is intact.  God directed Joseph and he obeyed right away. 

After hearing this admonition from “pops” Duarte, I went to bed that night and asked the Lord for a dream.  I prayed as I climbed into bed that He would direct us as a family and let us know what He wanted us to do. 

That night I had four successive dreams, one of them was a quick snapshot picture of what seemed to be bigger versions of my first two kids, and a littler girl holding hands with them.  I took that on faith that the Lord was giving us hope to believe that He would send a little girl to us.  A few years later, Linda gave birth to our third child, Amy.  It was a dream that gave us the faith to believe that there was another child in our future. 

Are you at a crossroads?  Are you in transition?  Maybe you know that whatever got you here won’t get you where you ultimately want to be?  If you are trying to discern God’s will and plan for your life and having difficulty understanding which way to go, it might be time for you to ask the Lord for a dream. 

Malachi 3:6 (NIV) says, 6  "I the LORD do not change.”

The same God who inspired and led Joseph through dreams can do the same with you.  If you do get a dream that you believe is from the Lord and the meaning is not clear, please let us know, let us pray with you and for you to be able to rightly discern what God might be showing you.  

Perhaps this Christmas will be known for being the season where God spoke and led you through a dream.  

From the desk of Andrew Burchett...

In the beginning of Luke’s gospel, we read about the coming of the one who would prepare the way for Jesus.  An older Priest named Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth had waited for many long years for a child, and in that culture the inability to bear children brought disgrace upon Elizabeth.  When Zechariah was in the temple, the angel Gabriel appeared to him and prophesied that they would have a son who would prepare the way for the Lord.  Zechariah doubted that the angel had the right couple in mind.  Zechariah’s doubt was rewarded by the inability to speak for months and months until John was born and his name was declared. 

While the angel was speaking to Zechariah and giving him hope for a future blessed with a son, he was also prophetically declaring what John would do and become.  Gabriel said this about John (the Baptist).

Luke 1:16-17 (NIV)
16  Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. 17  And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous--to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

John’s mission was to prepare the way for the coming of the messiah, Jesus, but there were other things on the to-do list for him to accomplish.  Turning the hearts of the fathers to the children is an allusion to Malachi 4:6.  It is interesting that the fathers are the ones with the heart posture that needs to be changed.  While I see deficiencies and places in the lives of my children that need to be addressed, most of the relational separation between me and my children are really more a reflection of what’s happening in MY heart, not their hearts.  There are times that I need a John the Baptist to speak boldly to my heart to turn it toward my children (not only my natural born children but spiritual children as well). 

While I would expect the spirit and power of Elijah might look like crazy miracles that John the Baptist would do, we don’t see accounts of miracles.  This doesn’t mean that miracles didn’t follow his ministry – we just don’t have an account of them.  The power we do see John moving in is through his words and in his prophetic voice that refuses to be silent when threatened, calling people to repentance (changing their minds & turning from their sinful ways).

The other part of the statement Gabriel includes is turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous.  It is striking to me that the disobedient aren’t just coming under God’s authority, but God is turning their hearts to the wisdom and input of those who are living rightly.  Once again, God is choosing to work through those of us who follow Him.  He is showing His desire to partner with us and share His wisdom through the words we speak and the actions we take.  It is a great privilege to know that God is continually sending people to me who are reevaluating their lives and are ready for the wisdom of heaven. 

That is where I feel humbled and dependent upon God to give me wisdom to give away to others.  I find myself praying for the grace of God to saturate me and fill my mouth with heaven’s wisdom.  My friend Gaylord once said to me, “All we need is a miracle a minute.”  The miracle I need at this Christmas time is the wisdom of heaven delivered to my heart and mind.   This is the gift that I seek for myself and for those who are broken and whose hearts have been turned toward me. 

As we seek the Christ who we celebrate at Christmas, let us also ask the Lord for wisdom (James 1:5).  When others come to us for help, assurance, direction, counsel, or in brokenness – we need to be a people bold enough to speak the truth in love.  John the Baptist was not afraid to speak the truth, and part of the power that Gabriel is foretelling about is that boldness to proclaim God’s truth to others.  

I am really seeking God for extra meaning and significance as I celebrate ADVENT, the coming of Jesus.  Let’s continually invite Him to come and be present with us as we worship and celebrate His first coming 2000 years ago. 

From the desk of Andrew Burchett...

Have you ever noticed that when you are driving, you have a lot of time to think about things?  It seems that “drive time” is time that we lose in the hurry and scurry of the day.  My default setting is to turn on the radio and listen to music, sports or talk radio.  While some of the things I listen to really build me up, most of the “car time” background noise really is not something that helps me learn, grow or even think about good things.  

One way that I have found focus in the midst of a busy day is to reclaim and redeem time while I am driving.  As the dad of three kids, I figure I spend at least an hour of time most days driving.  Half of the drive time is time alone.   So, what I have been trying to do is turn off the radio and pray.  I pray for all sorts of people in my life, for my day, for things that are coming up.  It isn’t a very organized prayer time, really scattered (kind of how my brain can work).   If it comes to mind in those quiet moments, I bring it before God and ask for His favor, help, encouragement, perspective and provision. 

On Tuesday I was driving down East 1st avenue when I found myself praying for someone who does ministry in our city.  As I prayed a short prayer about what I knew was going on in his life, a picture flashed across my mind.  It was a picture of this person coaching another leader, and a heavy issue being wrestled with.  It also felt like my friend needed to be very bold in suggesting a course of action that would be difficult. 

These thoughts seemed to come out of nowhere, and it occurred to me, maybe God was showing me something to pray for.  So, I prayed for my friend to have courage, strength and the ability to give the direction he needed to give to a person I didn’t know existed or not.  After the short prayer I sent a quick text message explaining what I had felt as I prayed for him.  After I sent the message, it felt like I had been obedient to share what I felt, then moved on with my day.  

Yesterday (Wednesday) I received a message back explaining that at the moment that text message arrived, my friend was coaching another Christian leader… who had to make a bold stand to one of his key leaders.   Wow!  It was just like that thought which had run through my mind.  As it turns out, the Lord was calling me to pray, and share with my friend what I was praying so he would be encouraged and know that God was really working in and through the ministry he is giving his life to. 

While I have had other thoughts run through my mind that didn’t seem to be the Lord, I have never tried to bless someone else and felt like it was in vain.  We are all learning how to discern God’s voice from our own voice and all the other competing voices in our lives.  Even when I “miss” and it’s not God giving me that thought, I feel as if people are gracious and still listen to me.  They still appreciate the fact that I’ve prayed God’s blessing over them.  I think it’s okay to be a little weird.

So, maybe it’s time to turn the radio down, pray, and share the fleeting thoughts you have with others!  Who knows, it might just make your day and bless another.  

From the desk of Andrew Burchett...

When my friend called and asked me if I wanted to go to the Bay Area to watch the Cal basketball game I didn’t hesitate to agree to make the trip.  Getting some time with this friend, who was the best man in my wedding, is precious.  My plan was to leave a little after noon and get down there a early so I could do a bit of random shopping prior to meeting up. 

Meetings at work ran longer than I expected, then I realized I needed to drop by my doctor’s office to get some samples of medication.  When I stopped at the medical group office they couldn’t find my samples and told me if I just waited for 10 more minutes, then I could be on my way.  Anxious to get on the road, but wise enough to know I needed to wait for this medication, I reluctantly slumped down into a waiting room chair.  With every passing moment my timeline was getting tighter and tighter; it felt like a constricted noose around my neck.  I was excited about having time to explore my destination on my own, and I feel like it was being taken away.  When 10 minutes turned into forty, I began to get frustrated. 

Then it dawned on me, maybe I wasn’t a victim of the medical office’s poor planning and disorganization.  Maybe it was ok that the office was supposed to have the samples ready and made an error.  At that point I realized, perhaps this was a divine decision for me to be delayed and that God had an assignment for me. 

So, I began to ask God to show me why I was there, and told Him that I wanted to accomplish what He had on His heart.  It wasn’t more than two minutes later that a woman I know came in the door to see the doctor. She was looking a bit disoriented.  I flagged her down to come to sit next to me.  The Lord quickly showed me that she was the reason I was there.  After asking about what was happening and listening intently I asked to pray for her. 

Immediately as I offered to pray, the nurse said, “Andrew…”  I excused myself and walked up to her only to find that it was the wrong “Andrew” – this time I was being distracted by the enemy from loving my friend in praying for healing.  I sat down again, and not 30 seconds later another nurse called my name, with my samples.  When I returned to the chair, my friends’ name was called and she went to the counter. 

At this point I was being tempted to just leave and get on the road, but I realized that God had called me to pray for this woman.  So, I waited for her to finish checking in.  When she came back, I wasted no time in launching into prayer for her healing. 

I prayed for my friend and felt like the Lord said, “OK, now it’s time to get on the road.”  Away I went to leave town, ending up having to make two more stops than I wanted to, but I arrived within five minutes of when I hoped to arrive!  How did that happen? 

The next time you are held up, distracted, delayed or otherwise find yourself inconvenienced, ask the Lord to show you if there’s something that He’s up to that you need to see.  Look around you to see who might be on God’s heart for you to love, talk to, pray for or connect with.  God works in mysterious ways, be ready for Him to interrupt your plans with His greater plans for loving others through you!  

From the desk of Andrew Burchett...

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NASB) 16  Rejoice always; 17  pray without ceasing; 18  in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

These three little verses tell us the answer to some very frequently asked questions…

“What is God’s will for me?” 

“How does He want me to live?”

“What is God expecting of me?”

It’s interesting that Paul, the writer of the letters to the Thessalonians goes out of his way to be all inclusive with his language here.  His commands are clearly for all situations, all times, all seasons, in every circumstance. 

He says… 

1)      Rejoice ALWAYS.

God’s will for us is to decide to celebrate God’s goodness even when things don’t go right.  It is important that we remember who He is (His character) and rehearse His deeds in the past (His works).  God really does expect constant celebration from us at ALL times (see also Philippians 4:4).  This is most difficult in times of trials, but most necessary to move us toward hope and remind us that He is sovereign and in control as the King of all. 

2)      Pray without ceasing. (NLT says “NEVER stop praying”)

In addition to the rejoicing of our hearts constantly, there is supposed to be a soundtrack of constant prayer to go with the cheering, smiling, and celebrating of God’s goodness.  This attitude of prayer and continual conversation with God is what He wants.  It’s like that text message conversation that evolves during the day, taking hours and hours to finally end.  With messages that go back and forth when each person has a minute to respond.  This looks like asking God lots of questions about what He is doing in a particular situation and what He wants you to do in the midst of it.  It could mean making the same request for help every five minutes for a whole day.   It may look like a steady stream of requests for God to intervene and bless or deliver others from evil.  It means that when you hear a siren, you pray for the person they are going to care for.  Praying without ceasing might mean that you pray silently at the restaurant for the couple at the next who are having an argument.  It could include asking someone if you can pray for them when you see they are sick or have an injury. 

3)      In EVERYTHING give thanks.

We are called to constantly live in a thankful space.  It is a place of realizing that all good gifts come from God (James 1:17) and even when we are still waiting for an answer to our prayers, we thank Him for what He has already done and for what He will do in the future.  We thank Him for the strength He gives us before we receive it and after it arrives.  We make every day, every hour, and every minute a time of thanksgiving.  It is easier to thank God for answered prayers and blessings than it is to thank him for the trials, challenges and difficult situations we find ourselves in.  This verse is clear, however, that what God really wants from us (His will) is to thank Him at all times. This can be a challenge, but it also is a practice that will remind us that God is in control and we are not.  Thanksgiving gives honor and credit to God and helps us to rely and expect God to come through for us because it flows from His generous, kind and faithful heart. 

So, as we approach a day where we practice thanksgiving, may it truly be a warm up for every minute of every hour of every day of the year.  Let us do God’s will by rejoicing always, praying always and giving thanks non-stop.  May we grow into followers of Jesus who live this way more and more.  

From the desk of Andrew Burchett...

While driving down the Esplanade yesterday, I found myself thanking God that I get to live in this city.  The colors of the red, yellow, orange and brown leaves contrasting against the blue sky was stunning, the temperature was comfortable, and though there were people on bikes, folks walking and cars on the road – it didn’t seem like there was the same rushed feeling that seems to go along with Christmas or the beginning of school. 

November feels like it was created for self-reflection.   

The more time I take to evaluate what I’m thinking and feeling about things, the more room I create to enter into a thanksgiving mindset.  While I generally find it easy to find the silver lining in every cloud and hope for a better tomorrow, seasons like this one make it even easier to be grateful.

Yesterday our Chico Christian School kids had their Thanksgiving feasts.  I’m sure school kids all over the nation made tall black paper hats, ate mashed potatoes and gravy, avoided the yams and made lists of what they are thankful for. 

I am contemplating sitting down and making a list of what I am thankful for this year, but prior to doing that I am praying and telling God how I am feeling and then telling one other person about it.  As I broaden the circle of thanksgiving, others enter in and begin to praise God for His goodness and His power.  Psalm 100 tells us to enter his gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. 

The gateway to God’s presence is recognizing who He is, and what He has done.   If you want to bring God’s presence into any situation, begin to thank Him for the provision He has made and meditate on what a good Father God is. 

As we truly enter into thanksgiving, we will receive the byproduct of joy in our lives.  It may not be a giddy joy, but it will certainly be a strengthening, trust building sort of confidence that will arise. 

Practicing communion is one way that we enter into thanksgiving.  It’s a time to reflect on the sacrifice of Jesus who paid for our sins once and for all on the cross.  It is often called, “The Eucharist” in high church circles.  The Greek work “Eucharisto” has the root word “chara” in it.  Chara in Greek is “Joy.”  Charis in Greek is “grace.”  When I think about this word, about being thankful, and even the act of taking the elements of communion, I first think of the grace of Jesus in dying for me.  The byproduct of praising Him for that sacrifice is joy in my life.  I begin to remember that I am His son, not His employee.  I recall that God has a plan for my life and is shaping me daily into the image of His Son, Jesus.  I also remember that I am not alone in this life, but constantly loved, supported and encouraged by Jesus.  This all serves to strengthen my identity in Christ and gives me courage to embrace the adventures ahead. 

Thanks Lord for this season, may we step into everything you have for us in these days. 

From the desk of Amy Wadlow...

I am excited for church this Sunday. Not just because we have the opportunity to freely come together to worship the Lord and lift His name up, but also because we’ll have opportunity to hear briefly from John, the field director for the country of Jordan, one of our missionary partners. As C&MA (our tribe) international workers, they are on their yearlong furlough to rest and reflect and also to tour and share about what they’re seeing the Lord do in Jordan. 

John has amazing stories of how the Lord provided the resources to open the school in Amman and the work that’s been happening since. In case you aren’t aware, the Alliance Academy of Jordan (AAJ) is the only school in the area set up to teach (and minister) to kids with disabilities and it’s our pleasure as a church to sponsor four kids who are attending and are in the first grade this year. 

The Lord is moving throughout the earth and partnering with Him through our church sponsored missionaries is one area where weekly tithe money goes. In fact, the area of missions is about 18-20% of our overall budget and we support folks overseas, as well as here in the NorCal region. 

As the Lord moves, we know there is opposition to His plan and just yesterday we received an email from Spas and Christina in Bulgaria asking for prayer. Here’s how we as a church can specifically lift them up… "For reasons unknown to us, someone made slanderous accusations about the Family-Based Home. While they are wholly without foundation, a national television station ran a report on it, casting doubt on us at a national level. With Spas in the USA raising funds, this becomes even more complicated, as he is not here to speak in our defense, and as the press is commenting on his absence as a sign of guilt. Please pray that God will redeem this situation, using it for His glory, as well as for the good of the home, all of us ministering there and especially for the four kids the Lord has placed in our home."

You may be like me where your immediate response was to get mad, then I remembered that the Lord has called us to bless those to persecute us and to pray for them. I’m working on that and still praying the Lord thwarts the enemy’s plans. Please join me in praying for this situation, as well as for each of our missionaries as they seek to obey the calling the Lord has placed on their lives. 

If you’d like to know more about the people and places we partner with, check out our webpage at http://www.ncchico.org/missions/.

Looking forward to being with you all you Sunday!

From the desk of Andrew Burchett...

In the Back to the Future trilogy of movies, Marty McFly has all sorts of adventures going back in time and heading to the future.  The date in the future he visited was October 21st 2015.  That is today’s date. 

The movie featured some advancement in technology that have come true and explained the Chicago Cubs finally won the World Series this year.  While the Cubs are still playing, I’m not sure that “prediction” is going to come true like some of the others.

The crazy scientist in the movie named Doc explained that if you met your future self, the whole universe and space-time continuum may implode.  I don’t think I would want to meet my future self if it was possible to do so.  While we are fascinated by what the future will hold and how things will turn out in our lives, there is great value to me in living in this moment.

Second Corinthians 5:7 says, “For we walk by faith and by sight.”  God wants to lead us, guide us and grow us in and through every moment.  He desires for us to seek Him first and His kingdom, promising us that He will then arrange all the other details of our lives (Mt. 6:33).   Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.”  Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”  Proverbs 16:9 reminds us, “The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.”

There is a moment by moment walking with God that I have experienced that gives significance and meaning to every second of every day.  There is great joy produced in our hearts when we focus on God and invite Him to come and lead us.  Great meaning can be found in life when you talk with God constantly throughout the day, asking Him for guidance on even small decisions.  When we watch for where His hand is moving and then giving Him credit we learn and relearn that God really is gracious, generous, thoughtful, kind, patient and powerful. 

It is my prayer that we, as Jesus followers, would imitate Him by being fully emotionally and spiritually present in the moment.  While we dream about how great the future will be and wait expectantly to do great things with and for God, I don’t want to miss what Jesus has for me to experience today. 

In the last Back to the Future movie, Jennifer wonders why a note she brought back from the future was suddenly erased.  Doc answered, “It means your future hasn't been written yet. No one's has. Your future is whatever you make it. So make it a good one, both of you.”  God is writing our future as we live every moment today.  He is shaping us, teaching us, preparing us and molding us.  Like the clay that is being shaped by the Potter’s hand, I want to cooperate and allow Him to form me.  As for me, I will be happy not going back to future, I want to get the most out of this moment given to me today.  

From the desk of Andrew Burchett...

Have you ever had a good coach? 

 Maybe you played a sport and loved the leader that was positioned to help you become the athlete that you wanted to be.   Good coaches inspire and draw the good things out of you that may be buried underneath layers of insecurity and beliefs that you aren’t good enough or can’t be successful.   When you have a good coach you feel like you have an extra mom or dad in your life that cares for you, listens to you and encourages you to go further and be better than you ever dreamed of being.   They often have more faith than you do, and because of their strong belief, you begin to believe yourself. 

 We place a high value on pouring into the lives of others here at Neighborhood Church.  We want to walk with the younger generations; we feel we have the privilege of walking alongside them as “mothers” and “fathers”, encouraging them to become all God made them to be. As I’ve often said: we don’t have to know everything to significantly influence others. We simply need to be good listeners, loving friends and wise “coaches.”

 As one who has attended Terry Walling’s Coaching Workshop at other churches and at Fuller Seminary, I am thrilled that we have him secured to do a workshop at Neighborhood Church for our key leaders on November 6-7! I’m writing to ask you to please come to it. This is so important that the church is absorbing most of the costs: you can attend for just $20. Space is limited. Don’t miss out on this opportunity! Detailed information is below.

 The model of coaching that Terry teaches is accessible and uses skills that I use in conversations every day. The time I spent learning these skills has changed the way I relate to people and how I do ministry. Terry is warm, engaging and creates a safe learning community in which to learn and grow. It’s not a bunch of lecturing. You learn specific skills and practice them with others at your table. And, I found that I got clarity on a few of my own issues while others around my table practiced coaching me. Coaching is not about teaching. It’s about drawing out what is already inside the other person.

 Please make every effort to attend this incredibly important workshop. You will be changed and equipped to better help others!

 In Christ’s love - 

 Andrew

When?           6-9pm Friday; 9am-4pm Saturday

Where?          The Neighborhood Church Youth Center

Register?       Go to www.ncchico.org/coaching-workshop. Please do it soon!

Please note: Regrettably, we are unable to provide childcare for this event

From the desk of Andrew Burchett...

What would it be like to work out of a place of rest? 

No, I’m not talking about a tele-commuting position that enables you to lounge in bed while you do your work.  I’m not trying to be overly spiritual or act like I’ve got this figured out.  In the past year, this thought has been rolling around in my head and I have been trying to approach my job, relationships and life a bit differently. 

What have I stumbled upon in this way?  Only a few things… 

I have learned that praying as soon as you wake up for your day, even before your feet swing out of bed is a good habit to reinforce.  I have been taking my blood pressure recently prior to getting up, and that gives me even a few more minutes to reflect and pray.  My prayers aren’t fancy, but they are real conversation with God.  This has brought a new peace to the first hour of the day, which can get away like a runaway train. 

When someone or something cancels or is later than I expected, I look around for the reason God has allowed that to happen.  This morning I was waiting for a person at the coffee shop.  When they didn’t arrive right on time, I began scanning my surroundings for the interruption or assignment that God had for me.  Sure enough, I spotted a coworker across the café, and as I approached, she said, wow, I was going to call you and ask you to pray... After she explained what she was sensing, I looked up and my friend Mike Wadlow was walking in the door.  As I waved him down to join us, I launched into praying for her, and he joined us.  It was God’s idea and I was not stressed about the tardiness of my friend.  As soon as I walked outside, I received a call from the friend I had been waiting for. 

Take the long way home.  This year I have enjoyed my reflection time alone more than any other time in my life.  I find myself stopping on the way across town, parking on the side of the road for five minutes.  In moments like that, I simply ask God questions and try to listen and discern what His answer may be.  It’s incredible how the peace from a five minute time of quiet can overflow into the rest of your day.  David Chotka, in his book, Power Praying, has encouraged us to start putting aside a time of focused prayer every day, to start with five minutes. 

Whenever you sit down, say a prayer.  This sounds funny, but whenever you get into your car, sit down for a meal, sit in your desk chair to look at finances or in your cubicle, ask the Lord to come and bring His presence and peace.  If you are a student, ask Jesus help you focus on the lecture.   When you sit down for a meeting pray a quiet prayer to help you accomplish what is on His agenda, not yours.  This practice has scattered all sorts of moments of putting my efforts in His hands, and brought rest to my soul. 

It is my prayer that these small things I have done will inspire you to find small ways that you can begin to invite God’s presence into every day, and begin to work from a place of rest.  

From the desk of Andrew Burchett...

Last week I told this story about my new next door neighbor lady moving in.  Upon meeting my wife Linda, she started asking about removing the tree that sits on the property line between our homes.  The large green Buddha necklace she wears is a clue that our beliefs are very different.  We have been praying for the person who would move in for months since the woman who lived there before died and the family sold the house. 

I stopped by our house to grab a book I had left at home yesterday and when I came out to get into the car, I noticed she was out on her front porch.  So I ventured over to meet my new friend. 

Just after exchanging names, she immediately launched into the reasons we should take out this large tree.  Determined to have a good conversation, I told her that I would be taking care of half her yard when I clean up my side.  When she heard the story of how we cared for the woman who lived there before her and as I explained that we were committed to loving our neighbors well, she softened. 

As she explained that she had lost her husband a few years ago, she began to cry.  Then she began to apologize for crying in front of me.  I put my hand on her shoulder and told her that as a pastor I listened to people process their journey with tears most every day.  It was a holy moment, imagined by God before the beginning of time.  A moment that I was created to experience and be Jesus with skin on, so I can love my neighbor (Eph. 2:10).  I was also relieved that the cat was out of the bag that I am a pastor and a follower of Jesus.  It didn’t feel right to be an undercover Christian. 

By the end of the 15 minute conversation she was telling me what her schedule was, when she was leaving town and looking forward to getting together again when she gets back from the Bay Area. 

God is working.  He has plans for my family to love her and show her the love and power of God in the days, months and years to come.  This is the art of neighboring, this is exciting to see how God is moving and reaching out to people who He loves.

It doesn’t take hours and hours to love your neighbors, it usually is a matter of minutes and minutes scattered over days, weeks, months and even years.  Adopting your block is really about your heart posture and openness to connect and engage with others nearby when windows of opportunity open.  There are times that we initiate connection by borrowing and loaning tools, giving away extra homemade muffins and housesitting for neighbors who are away on vacation.  We believe that God placed us in this neighborhood to be a light to others.

Do you believe that you were specifically placed in your home for a purpose?  What will it look like for you to be a light in your neighborhood?  Have you begun to ask God to highlight specific people for you to connect with around you?  God is calling you to come and partner with the work He is already doing.  Will you answer the call?

From the desk of Andrew Burchett...

Jesus told us to love our neighbor.  

What if He really meant we were supposed to love our actual neighbors? 

You know who I am talking about?  It’s the guy who never seems to tell his dog to stop barking in the middle of the night.  It might be the family that goes “shopping” in your garage and decides to use your lawn equipment without asking.  I’m referring to the guy who drives his huge truck way too fast past where your kids are playing.  It’s the people on the other side of the apartment wall who play their music so loud it’s killing any peace and quiet for you. 

Your response to Jesus’ command to love others might be… “That’s easier said than done!”  It’s possible that you have now created a whole web of excuses to explain why you don’t have to love your actual neighbors. 

Our family takes this command of Jesus seriously, by being responsible to love the people that live on our block.  We see our neighbors as people who have names, a story and needs that we can either meet or pray for.  While we have been working at this for almost 13 years in our current home, it has never ceased to be a great challenge.  At times it has bordered on impossible, as we have had legal issues, restraining orders, theft and mistrust with different neighbors over the years.

Philippians 4:13 tells us that we can do everything through the power of the Holy Spirit who will strengthen us.  We have seen incredible fruit over the years as we have prayed for our neighbors, sought to love them, and meet their needs when necessary.  We have shared the gospel and our lives as well (1 Thess. 2:8). 

Just two days ago my wife met our new next door neighbor.  Linda immediately noticed the very large Buddha on her necklace and knew right away that this new neighbor has different beliefs than we do.  She explained that even though she has only lived their one day, she is ready to take the tree out between our homes.  I can tell that this will be a challenge to love her. 

Our other next door neighbors have been there for years and we have had many bumps in the road with their family.  The older members of the family don’t speak English, and the younger two generations are working hard to be accepted into American culture.  Conversations can be difficult and things get lost in translation.

As I sat watching the baseball game, relaxing from a busy day of interacting with people, there was a knock on the door.  It was my neighbor’s 17 year old son who asked if he could interview me about politics and American government for school.  I was tired, but I saw this as an opportunity to be kind and help him.  So, he came in the house and sat on the couch with me.  A 10 minute interview turned into an hour worth of discussion.  It was clear that he wanted to connect with me far past the few questions that were on his worksheet.  This was an opportunity to build relationship and let love transcend the difficult relationship we have with his parents and grandparents.  He was joyful, thankful and smiling at the end, and I blessed him as he left.  I realized that I was planting seeds for Kingdom of God as I loved and listened to the next door neighbor kid. 

What opportunities will you make the most of where you live this week?  Will you stand and linger at the mailbox to start a conversation?   When you see a neighbor working in their yard, will you go and say hello and ask them how they are doing?  Will you be inconvenienced to show the kindness of our God and represent Jesus well? 

God is calling us to live in our neighborhood with purpose.  He wants us to be attentive to needs, to pray and ask God for His Kingdom to come and His will to be done.   We have experienced life to the fullest, and others have to hear about it and see a picture of it lived out in our lives!   

From the desk of Andrew Burchett...

This life is messy.

Have you ever noticed that relationships are messy?  Sure, we try really hard for things to stay neat and clean, without conflict or differences of opinion or values that clash… but if we are honest, all relationships have some dissonance. 

As a pastor, I have the opportunity to pray for, coach, counsel and console a lot of people who are trying to navigate difficult relationships.  So often we find ourselves quoting Ephesians 4:14-15 (NLT), which says,

“14  Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.
15  Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.”

As we grow and mature as followers of Jesus, we can measure our growth by our ability to “speak the truth in love.”   Many love, tolerate, put up with others but are afraid to tell the truth and keep precious facts or perceptions to themselves.  Others beat others up with the truth without any regard for the feelings of the person they are talking to.   Neither approach is a mature response that reflects God’s great grace and truth. 

Things can be messy when we speak the truth in love.  People can choose to pick up an offense or receive what is said.  Honest relationships have push and pull, give and take.  Real opinions are shared and concerns for the other person are raised.   Our culture preaches tolerance; which is really love without truth.  I would argue that suppressing the truth is not loving at all.  It says that I am more concerned about your potential hurt feelings than helping you to grow, change, adapt, and move forward.  It is a fearful heart posture that selfishly avoids conflict and the potential loss of relationship. 

There is a mutual submission and humility that the New Testament calls for that desires the truth being spoken in a very loving manner. 

Ephesians 5:21 (NLT) says, “21  And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”  This heart posture welcomes constructive criticism and others to instruct and teach from wisdom, experience or even supernatural revelation.  This is not a guarded and skeptical heart attitude, but an open one. 

Although I am eager and willing to learn from others, it doesn’t mean I have turned my brain off and I can be easily swayed.  It means that I honor others by truly listening to them and “weighing” what they have to say.  I consider everyone I come into contact an opportunity to hear from God, that God can and does speak through others – even those who don’t follow Him yet.   If God can speak through the mouth of a donkey (Numbers 22), certainly He can speak through any person I meet along the way. 

So, real relationships are messy.  Our relationship with God can be messy as well.  There can be frustration and confusion and doubt in our pursuit of Jesus.  All those things need not be negative – even doubt can drive us toward getting more clarity and causing us to ask clarifying questions about our faith. 

There were 13 people who “chose Jesus” this past Sunday in our worship services.  For several of them, this process of beginning a relationship with Jesus has been messy.  It has caused them to rethink how they relate to their families, coworkers and roommates. It has kept them up late at night considering what this decision means and wondering, “How will my life change now?”

I don’t have the answers for them, but as long as I am speaking the truth in love, I can guarantee thing – whatever your life becomes, it will be messy.   

From the desk of Andrew Burchett...

We are surrounded by thousands of messages per day.  Social scientists estimate that we see as many as 20,000 marketing messages per day.  Science has estimated that our senses are bombarded with 11 million bits of data every second!  We are truly fearfully and wonderfully made!  The average person’s working memory can only handle 40-50 bits max.  That means we are ignoring 10,999,950 bits of data every second we are awake.  No wonder I feel tired when I try to focus in at work or read a book – there is sensory data competing for my attention constantly. 

While God did a great job creating our brains, I don’t think that His intent was to push them to the breaking point with thousands of messages a day.   Although many of the messages may be good and helpful, it seems that the “noise” of our culture is robbing us of the ability to truly sit with God and not be pulled away.   It was Socrates who said, “An unexamined life is not worth living.”  Truly a life without times of self reflection, is a rushed, frantic, thin, brittle, anxious life. 

Don’t blame the fortune 500 companies for the pace you’ve chosen for your life, they believe that they will make your life better if you buy their product.  All of the rushing around we do as Americans has left us hungry for substance, for meaning, and in the deepest part of our soul, hungry for rest and proper perspective.

When I am honest with myself, I can admit that I choose to self-medicate with entertainment when moments get quiet instead of taking advantage of the moment by doing something that will bring me life.  It can be something as benign as playing solitaire or watching a baseball game or a movie.  Entertainment is not evil, but I have allowed it to replace much of the time I need to be sitting in my chair quietly praying, asking God questions, writing in my journal, pondering things or even laying down with my eyes closed listening to music. 

In this season, when I have a wonderful opportunity to spend time reflecting and growing a bit closer to God, instead I am trying to pay attention and not “punt” directly to entertainment.  The Lord says, “Be still and know that I am God.”  I need to work on being still. 

This week we built some tables for our backyard so we can entertain larger groups.  While I was sanding, staining, painting and distressing the wood, I found wonderful peace in the solitude of the moments alone on the patio.  I felt the Lord was leading me to consider certain things, bringing the things to mind that He wanted me to think about.   I didn’t make any life changing decisions, but I did emerge from that time with more peace than I had when I started.  I was uninterrupted during that time, and feel more alive now than I did last week. 

What choice will you make to limit the “noise” and say no to the ever present temptation to be entertained?  Will you draw away to a place where you can reflect and be filled up by God?  Your secret place may be as close as your back patio! 

For the next six weeks we will look at choices we must make in order to move us down the path of living “life to the fullest.”   I look forward to starting this journey this Sunday and hope to see you at either the 9am or 11am service!  

From the desk of Andrew Burchett

These are the last days of summer.  While it is still more than warm most days, and the sunrise and the sunsets have been red and pink due to the smoke in the air from forest fires, the calendar says autumn is arriving.  The mornings are a bit cooler and kids are now back in school.  Football is returning and the leaves will soon begin turning vibrant colors.   What will the fall mean for you? 

For me, the fall represents a fresh start.  It is a time to get into a rhythm and schedule that will bring focus and habits that have somehow evaded me during the summer.  I am reworking my schedule and making sure that the most important things are in place first. 

Spiritually speaking, what will this fall bring to you?  Will you create space and time to sit with Jesus and listen for His voice?  What will you invest in your spiritual growth?  Will you budget a bit of money to buy some new worship music that will draw you into His presence, for a book that will teach you about His character, will you buy a new Bible that will get you excited about reading or set aside some time for a class or seminar? 

We are a culture that can be very short sighted in the various forms of entertainment that can fill our hours and keep us from directing our intention toward growing spiritually.  If I am not fiercely intentional in building in time and space to spend time doing things that encourage me to grow – I begin to slide back into selfish living, wanting to be constantly entertained and comfortable. 

There are opportunities our church is offering this fall to grow in your walk with God. 

1)      Sunday morning services

This seems silly to mention, but attending church is a key way to be challenged to grow in your faith.  While attendance in churches has grown more sporadic in our country, weekly involvement in corporate worship helps us grow.  When you are in town, make Sunday worship services a priority.

2)      Spiritual Formation classes

We will be offering classes on Sunday mornings beginning this September. We have a few core classes that we would love for every person at NC to go through as they make their way in their journey down the path of discipleship.

3)      Focused Living Seminar

We will offer this seminar on September 18th and 19th. More than 200 people at NC have gone through this first level seminar that helps you begin to get clear about how God has been shaping you for your future, and what He has called you to.  Go to www.ncchico.org for more information and to sign up.

4)      A new website filled with resources

We are very excited about a new, more robust web presence that will be full of links to articles, books and other resources to help you grow spiritually.  Watch for this website to launch very soon!!!

As I get into my fall schedule, I am looking forward to the habits and rhythms that help me to consistently grow closer to Jesus.  Join me in reimagining what it looks like for you to practically take steps to move forward in growing spiritually!

From the desk of Andrew Burchett...

Tom, Amy & I (Andrew) have been in Colorado Springs this week for the Resonate conference at the National offices of our denomination, the Christian and Missionary Alliance.  As a tribe, our vision is to be a “Christ centered, Acts 1:8, family.”  The Springs is a place of incredible beauty, nestled among the Rocky mountains with red rocks and bluffs that emerge from evergreen hillsides.  It has rained fiercely intermittently since we arrived, punctuated by thunder and lightning.  Creation has refreshed us.  It has also been a time that has been filled with inspiring messages and helpful information about how we can be more a part of this family. 

We spent a little time with the President and his wife, Dr. John & Joanna Stumbo this evening.  It was such a sweet time of genuine relationship and connection.  I felt like a college student who had been away at college and was visiting with mom and dad at home.  Conversation was free and easy, sprinkled with laughter and some tears as we shared stories about our lives and reflected on God’s goodness.  The testimonies that were being shared brought such honor and glory to God, and they just flowed naturally, story after story, as we shared our hearts and lives. 

It occurred to me on this trip that we are home.  This family is deep, diverse, genuine and led by the Spirit of God.  The movement of the Alliance has a rich texture that boasts 37 different languages spoken in churches in the United States alone.  Diversity is refreshing.  When I look at the nearly 200 people from all over our country, it looks a little bit like I can imagine heaven.  People with all shades of skin, speaking different languages, surround us in the worship times.  This family is making an impact on 70 of the least reached people groups in the world.  Twenty two of the fields overseas are now sending their own missionaries to other nations and tribes.

It is a powerful thing to be known.  When I walked into the national office, and I was recognized and embraced by the people who are there, I was humbled.  As a son of this movement who once was far off, unconnected from the family, I finally realize that I have been blessed and accepted not only by the father of our movement (President Stumbo), but embraced by the rest of the family.  I have a place at the table here to help speak into our movement, and as a church, Neighborhood Church has a part to play in helping to blaze new trails and inspire the leaders here too. 

God is on the move here.  There were many stories of miracles we have heard.  We have watched the leaders here set aside time for counseling and healing prayer for people attending the conference, and we have watched as the Lord has spoken through prophetic words.  The emphasis on being committed to the Word of God and following the voice of the Holy Spirit that we have witnessed has been nothing less than awesome.   As a church, our DNA fits perfectly with what we have witnessed here.  I am so proud to be a part of one of the few denominations in the U.S. that is growing. 

We belong.   We are a movement.   We are the Alliance. 

From the desk of Kathy Varner

From the desk of Kathy Varner…

Do you ever get those tugs on your heart and mind from the Lord? The ones that are so strong and relentless that there is no way you can ignore them. It almost seems like the more you try and ignore them, the stronger they become.  I had one of these last Fall. It was in early November when I began to feel a very strong pull towards the Seattle area.

Our son and daughter-in-law had been encouraging us for several years to move up to the Seattle area to be closer to them and our granddaughter. It was definitely something we had considered and felt that when the time was right and it was the Lord’s will, we would pursue it. But of course, in our minds, that might be 5-10 years down the road.

Having just come through my daughter’s wedding, the loss of my mother and having found out that my father had cancer of the kidney; it was hard for me to imagine that this was the next step in line for us. My father had come through his surgery for removal of his kidney and was going through a long slow recovery process.   I couldn’t imagine moving away from him at this time. I thought at first that the tugging was just my own selfish desire to move closer to my granddaughter. So I put it at the back of my mind, thinking the timing wasn’t right. There were too many obstacles to overcome, the main one being helping care for my dad. The only other option I would even remotely consider was to move him up to Seattle with us.

But the tugging continued and grew stronger. So I began to process the possibility with my husband Jeff. We took inventory of all the steps that would need to be taken in order for it to happen and realized that there were quite a few. We would need to find jobs in the Seattle area, sell our home in Chico, find a place to live in Seattle, talk to my sister and figure out what to do about my dad. It would also take a financial toll on us to pay to move up there. We decided of course to pray about it and see if the Lord gave us some direction. I had personally been in a transition time for the past three years and was still trying to figure out where God wanted me in this next phase of my life. (I happened upon the book “Stuck” by one of our congregation members and it helped me to see that this transition was normal and could last for 3 years.) So I was still pondering.  With all our children gone from Chico and married, Chico really wasn’t as appealing to me anymore. I really missed having our children close. Could this be the Lord putting this on my heart and letting me know that this was the next phase for me? That this path would lead me out of transition?

So after praying about it, we decided to step out of the boat and see what would happen. If God was in this, then we trusted that He would open the right doors. Our first priority was for one of us to acquire a job in the Seattle area.

I won’t bore you with all the details of what transpired over the next 3 ½ months except to say that when God is ready to move, He moves! We had planned on this transition taking anywhere from 6 months – a year.  So many of the details of our moving up to Seattle fell into place without us having to even put much effort of our own into it. Both of our work places offered to let us remain working for them remotely from Seattle. Jeff’s was for a short term, but it would give him time to look for a new job once we had moved up. We put our house on the market and it sold in 3 days for over asking price. Our son’s in-laws offered their rental home to us at a highly reduced rental amount. We would end up living in beautiful Bellevue less than a mile from our son, his wife and daughter. This home is the biggest, nicest and roomiest home we’ve ever lived in.

The last issue to resolve was my dad. Because my sister is so close to my dad and his health was still not good, we decided he would stay in Chico near her and I would make frequent trips to Chico to see him and help out. I had decided though not to share with him that we were moving until the time came. At 92 years young he had become quite forgetful and so I knew that I would have to tell him I was moving repeatedly. I must admit that this was the one area that still didn’t feel just right to me. It was going to be extremely difficult to move away from him. I wasn’t looking forward to that. God had been so good in taking care of all of the other details that I needed to trust that when the time came, he would see to this one too.

One of the most important things to remember is that when God is on the move He knows the future. Even when we may hesitate to take a step forward, or may not see what is going to transpire, God does. This is one of the most important times to completely trust Him, when we can’t figure it out, He can and will. It reminds me of one of my favorite verses which is Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”.

I never had to tell my father that I was moving away from Chico. On January 6th, 2015 my dad passed peacefully into the arms of Jesus. God knew all along. As hard as it was, having to say good bye to him forever, I still had a peace that passes understanding knowing that he was no longer in pain and he was reunited with my mom. This reminded me of another verse which is Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.” I had definitely learned to not lean on my own understanding, in fact I would continue to learn more about that as we made this move to Seattle.

All the pieces of the pie fell into place so smoothly, without us having to make much of an effort on our own part, that we knew that God was at the forefront of this move. In fact it all came together and moved so quickly that by February 18th we were in Bellevue. The only glitch was the house we were moving into wasn’t ready for us but the added bonus to that was we were able to move in with our son and his family for a month or so. They were very open to this and we enjoyed a time of sharing all our meals with them and lots of daily quality time together. God is so good.

Within a few weeks of arriving in Bellevue, Jeff began looking for a permanent job and within two weeks he was employed with a great company that was only a 5 minute commute from our home. God had again provided in a miraculous way.

What we didn’t know, and we were to later learn, was why God had moved us up here so quickly. As I mentioned earlier, we never imagined the move going so quickly and smoothly. From the time we took the first step out of the boat, to being in Bellevue, had only been 3 ½ months.

On April 25th I received a call from our son that they were taking Violet (our granddaughter) to the emergency room because she was experiencing excruciating pain in her left hip. Upon examination and tests, the doctor diagnosed her with septic hip and they performed emergency surgery on her hip to remove the pocket of fluid that had collected at the top of her femur. Jeff and I rushed over to the hospital to be with Jim and Rosanne and offer moral support to them. Violet’s temperature reached 107 degrees while in surgery and there were some touch and go moments. Fortunately God protected her from having a seizure and so there was no brain damage. This would be the beginning of an 8 week stay in Seattle Children’s hospital for her while they tried to fight off the infection. The infection that had formed in her body was MERSA which is highly resistant to antibiotics. They had to try 3 different antibiotics before finding one that worked. While in the hospital she had to go back in and have her hip drained 3 more times. She continued to have high levels of pain, run a fever, unable to walk and have no appetite. But through it all God kept her safe and gave the doctors wisdom in treating her. In fact we found out that her main doctor was a Christian.

So many prayers went up for her. There were five different churches praying for her including Neighborhood. Thank you so much for your prayers. We now know why God moved us up here so quickly because again he sees the future and he knew that Jim and Rosanne would need us close to walk through this ordeal with them.

I am happy to report that Violet is much better. She is still on IV antibiotics but she has been able to stop taking most of her meds, her feeding tube is out, she is walking quite well and the top of her femur bone is healing.

So if you are feeling strong nudges and promptings from the Lord, I encourage to you do the following:

Pray and ask Him for direction and clarity

Take that first step out of the boat

Trust Him even when you don’t know what is ahead

Don’t try to figure it all out. He will reveal His plan in due time

Continue to move forward

Realize that his plan is a thousand times better than any plan we have

Rest in Him

Blessings to you all! I miss you.

From the desk of Andrew Burchett...

We exist as a church to help people experience and share the life to the fullest that Jesus came to give us.  It is our heart to be a people who burn with a love for God and for others that will be contagious and seen in every area of our lives: home, work, the coffee shop, social events and even when we are on vacation.  We are a people who are learning to pray and seek God first, then to look to see where God is working and bringing His solutions.  We believe that God still heals us today, physically, emotionally, spiritually, financially and relationally.  As the people of God, we are His church. 

While you may agree with all these things, do you ever feel like you’re on the outside looking in?  Perhaps you have felt like everyone else is clear on where their lives are going, but you are still in the fog?  Have you been secretly hoping that someone will come up to you, give you a word from God about the path you are supposed to take in life – and then you can just follow the marching orders?  You might even be middle aged or older and you wonder if you have missed your opportunity to step into what God has created you for…

If any of these things are familiar or true, then you need to strongly consider attending our Focused Living Workshop in September.   We will take a Friday evening and a Saturday daytime time frame to do a bit of teaching about how God helps us get clear about what He has created us for, and how to put into words what your future might start looking like. 

This process is done in community, where you are sitting at a table with other people who are just like you.  We are all trying to get clearer on how God has shaped us, and what great things He is directing us toward.  It is based on taking time to look back at your life and create a timeline of people, events and circumstances that have been formative and pivotal.  With the help of a table coach and partnering with various people to work together, you will be surprised at the clarity you can achieve in a short amount of focused attention and time.  The Holy Spirit wants you to know who you are and how He has created you to function and live this life to the fullest.  When you pray and ask God to help you in this process, He answers every time, because it’s part of His will for us to begin to understand these things. 

While every person is vastly different, there are some things that seem to be true of all of us, and Dr. Terry Walling, I and a few others will help you to begin to see what God has been at work doing in your life for years.  We don’t get to a place of clarity alone, and this seminar will help open your eyes to the road of a life to the fullest. 

Consider joining us on Friday evening, September 18th and Saturday 19th during the daytime hours.  You will hear more about Focused Living in the following weeks, but begin to pray about joining us.  If you attended Focused Living and you want to attend again to solidify your understanding of the teaching and work further on your timeline, you are welcome to come as “alumni” for a discounted rate.  I can’t wait to hear your story of how Focused Living helped you live life to the fullest!  

From the desk of Amy Wadlow...

As Jesus followers, we are a part of one body, under Christ the head and each of us has an important role to play.

This past week on our mission trip to Mexico, it was such a joy to see the body functioning as God intended. He was so faithful to put together a team that reflected so many different aspects of His character. It was a privilege to see the members of our team using their God given skills and gifts to bless those around them.

As I was driving back from Vicente Guerrero to San Diego, I was praising the Lord for His wisdom, creativity and sovereign knowledge. He knew the high school students on the team would greatly benefit from Mike Mendon’s leadership and ability to delegate. God knew that Mike would release and trust students and that Dalton Burks would rise to the occasion and help lead his peers, Michael Burchett and Caleb Wurlitzer, in building the home. God knew that putting Linda Burchett and Ian Moore on that team would provide a safe place for students to be their squirrely selves and enjoy the fullness of life Jesus came to give us. God knew then that the team would need Kate Moore to help provide structure and that it would be easier to finish the home if Kat Burchett, Kaia Harry and Tucker Burks loved and played with kids as others were swinging hammers and raising walls. God, in His knowledge, knew that Matt Sylvia’s life would be touched as He recognized the privilege we have in this first world nation, that Kaia would need her dad Wayne as she experienced a bit of sickness, that Brandon Mann would catch God’s heart for missions and that this trip would be an answer to a prayer Jenna Redman has prayed for six years.

God is good. He faithfully brought Annalise Farmer on the trip and allowed us to receive from her training as a nurse and what a blessing it was to hear Amy Ross share stories of spending the day cutting hair at the orphanage. We had a great time building our house for a widow named Gregoria and it would’ve been so much more difficult for us without our very own pied piper, Scott Blackman doing magic tricks and keeping the little kids busy for hours.

Each time I take a ministry trip I am reminded of the Lord saying, “go, and lo I am with you always.” He always manages to show up in creative ways. He provides just what is needed at just the right time and leads us in using the gifts and skills we have as we make ourselves available. As we took time to share together on our last evening, I heard over and over from our team that they want to be a blessing here and see the needs of people around us at home just like in Mexico. Join us in praying for our team as we reenter life here in Chico and join us in praying that for our church family. That’d we’d be quick to give ourselves away and live lives focused on preferring one another. 

From the desk of Andrew Burchett...

Charleston, South Carolina is called “the holy city” because of the numerous churches in its downtown area.  The Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church was established in 1816 and has been a place where bigotry and hatred have been experienced in previous centuries.  While racism is still a problem, no one could have suspected that a young white man would appear at a bible study and brutally kill nine people who were meeting there in the church basement.  Included in those who were killed is the Senior Pastor, Clementa Pinckney, one with influence far past the four walls of the church, even into the state senate.  It was an unholy moment in what is known a holy place.

Just four days after the tragedy, the church reopened it’s doors and its’ members stood with thousands of others in their city across a bridge to show their unity.  It was the body of Christ in a city coming together to love and support one another, regardless of the color of one’s skin.  Christians from all over the nation and the world have been praying and asking God to do a powerful, healing work. 

In a remarkable showing of grace, several of the victims’ families had the opportunity to address the shooter who was in custody.  They all said the same phrase, “I forgive you.”  The world doesn’t know what to do with this kind of exquisite grace; it doesn’t make sense to those who belong to the world’s approach.  This response has captivated a nation and inspired many. 

Upon reopening the church, an elder said, “The doors of the church are open, praise be to God.” “No evildoer, no demon in hell or on Earth can close the doors of God’s church.”  The people of “Mother Emmanuel” church are overcomers.  They are walking through their grief and through this valley of the shadow of death very well.  I can’t imagine the pain and anguish that the church family is experiencing.  Long after the glow of the camera crews and national media are gone, the children who lost parents and grandparents will still grieve and mourn. 

It has been puzzling for me to understand how we can stand in unity with such people of grace.  I find that I want to do something to make a difference; I want to imitate their faith and courage.  One suggestion is to join in unity with the body of Christ here in Chico through prayer. 

This Sunday evening—Chico City Prayer will be meeting at Second Baptist Church. Our theme, Heaven’s Wisdom (James 3:13-18), will be presented by Pastor Joseph Kiwovele. Following this, we will break into small groups for prayer, asking that this wisdom would characterize Jesus’ Church in our city. 

The response of the congregation at Emanuel AME Church has captured the moral high ground—something that cannot be ignored by national and international media. We will be praying for them at this meeting, asking for healing and continued grace to display their trust in Jesus to a watching world.

Consider joining us at Chico City Prayer, 7:00 p.m. Sunday, June 28 at Second Baptist Church, 1053 Ohio Street.